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AP Top 25: Kansas Holds Steady at No. 1 as St. John’s Returns After 5-Year Hiatus!

AP Top 25: Kansas remains No. 1, St. John's makes first appearance in 5 years

AP Top 25 rankings show Kansas holding steady at No. 1, having garnered 44 of 62 first-place votes following a thrilling home victory against North Carolina. In a nail-biting finish, Kansas managed to maintain its lead, overcoming a 20-point deficit to secure a 92-89 triumph. This win solidifies their position above Alabama, which received six first-place votes, and UConn, the two-time reigning national champion, which tallied seven votes.

Gonzaga, led by coach Mark Few, climbed two spots to No. 4 after decisively defeating then-No. 8 Baylor in their season opener and subsequently overcoming Arizona State. Meanwhile, Bruce Pearl’s Auburn Tigers made headlines by jumping six spots to No. 5, marking the most significant rise of the week after a win against then-No. 4 Houston. Both Gonzaga and Auburn secured the remaining five first-place votes, showcasing their strong performances.

Auburn’s entry into the top 10 was the only fresh addition in a reshuffled lineup, with Duke rising to No. 6. Iowa State claimed the seventh spot, followed by Houston, Arizona, and UNC, which slipped one position following their defeat at Kansas’s Allen Fieldhouse.

St. John’s re-entering the rankings at No. 22 was particularly significant. This marks the Red Storm’s first appearance in the Top 25 since January 2019 and coincides with the return of Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino, who has a storied history in college basketball.

This is the first time a team coached by Pitino has made it into the Top 25 since he was at Louisville during the 2016-17 season. His career faced turbulence when he was dismissed amid a federal investigation into corruption in college basketball. After three seasons at Iona, Pitino took the helm at St. John’s, aiming to revitalize the program.

Joining St. John’s in the rankings is Ohio State at No. 21, marking their first appearance since January 2023.

Texas (No. 19) and UCLA (No. 22) fell out of the preseason poll, reflecting the competitive nature of this season.

After Auburn, Kentucky made the second-largest leap, rising four spots to No. 19 as Mark Pope begins his tenure. Marquette and Cincinnati also saw progress, climbing three spots each to No. 15 and No. 17, respectively.

In total, 13 teams improved their standings compared to the preseason poll, showcasing a dynamic early season.

Texas A&M experienced the most significant drop, falling 10 spots to No. 23 after a loss to UCF. Houston, along with Baylor, also slipped four spots due to defeats against ranked teams.

Seven teams dropped in the rankings, reflecting the intense competition in college basketball.

The Southeastern Conference leads with eight ranked teams, including Tennessee at No. 11, Arkansas at No. 18 under new coach John Calipari, Florida at No. 20, and Ole Miss at No. 25.

Following closely is the Big 12 with six ranked teams, while the Big East and Big Ten each have four. The ACC has two representatives, and the West Coast Conference has one.

Here’s the complete AP Top 25: 

1. Kansas 
2. Alabama 
3. UConn 
4. Gonzaga 
5. Auburn 
6. Duke 
7. Iowa St 
8. Houston 
9. Arizona 
10. UNC 
11. Tennessee 
12. Baylor
13. Purdue 
14. Creighton 
15. Marquette 
16. Indiana 
17. Cincinnati 
18. Arkansas 
19. Kentucky 
20. Florida 
21. Ohio State 
22. St. John’s 
23. Texas A&M 
24. Rutgers 
25. Ole Miss

Source

Written By

Dave Gallo is a leading sports bettor and handicapper since 1999, known for his impressive 10-0 winning streaks. A journalism, advertising, and media studies major at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he combines his betting expertise with academic knowledge. Gallo's strong work ethic and passion for sports fuel his ongoing success and scholarly pursuits.

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